if i show you pictures of my figure, can you please tell me how much more weight to lose.

[flanjabelle]

Sorry it's one of those threads. I have lost nearly three stone after being overweight for my whole life. I started at 12 stone 8lbs (not the heaviest I have been) and now weigh 9 stone 11. I am 5ft6 with a big frame. The only problem is, I still see the fat kid in the mirror. I still see a huge belly, massive thighs, wobbly arms etc etc.

Family members have stopped congratulating me on my weightloss and started saying things like "you aren't going to lose any more are you?" And "if you lose much more you are going to look ill".

Can you please give an objective view on how much more you would aim to lose if you were me. I think my family are so used to seeing me overweight, they can't be objective at all. I also thought that I would just know when I was at the right weight, but I still feel fat, but I don't know if that's because of always being the fat one iyswim.

I'm not looking for compliments, I'm just trying to work out if my family are right? Or if I should still be aiming to lose more. I had 9 stone as a goal, but my mum seems to think I will look awful. I just can't tell :( please help.

I'm not that fussed if this outs me, I'm very boring :)

[Lizawithaz]

In my opinion, you look very slim and have a lovely healthy figure. I agree with your family. What dress size are you now?

[Oldwestaction]

Well done on your weight loss! Personally I don't think you need to loose any more weight. I lost a similar amount a few years ago and I think it sometimes takes a while for your brain to catch up with with how you look now after being so used to seeing the 'old you' in the mirror for so long, if that makes sense?

[Itsalldramarama]

Well done on your Weight loss :) I honestly think you now just need to maintain and not lose any more , you are at a healthy weight for your height if not a little under ? You look fine :)

[LadyRivers1]

I'm the same height as you and started at the same weight, I'm 10st 7lb now and want to get to where you are - then I'll stop. You look great :)

[museumum]

Well done. I think you're right in the middle of the healthy bmi range (I think you're between 21 and 22)?

In that case you should aim to maintain your weight and work in your fitness.

Well done.

[WipsGlitter]

Well done. You look fine now and should just concentrate on maintaining. And maybe being to think more about clothes and hair and feeling better about yourself that way.

[LadyRivers1]

And I get what you mean about still seeing the fat kid in the mirror - I think it will take me a long time to get used to the weight loss

[Birgitz]

You look great and don't look like you need to lose any more

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Yes, stop there, you look perfect. You don't want to end up looking scrawny. I say that as someone who is the same height as you and who has had trouble maintaining my weight my whole life and have had rude people calling me too skinny etc. I have a small frame (think child-like bone width in my wrists!) and have been around 8.5 stone most of my adult life. Now I'm pre-menopausal the weight is creeping on naturally with hormones I think, and I'm about 9 St 4 now and think I look about right for my frame now.

You look great, honestly! Well done.

[burnishedsilver]

Congratulations on your weightless. You can stop now. You're done.

[60sname]

I think you look toned and slender at the moment.

I am 5' 6" and 9 stone, albeit on a slightly smaller frame, and with a small bust. This is my 'natural weight' ie I don't have to starve myself to achieve it. I say this to counterbalance other people who might say that going under 9st 11 would be light at your height.

There is no one right weight - why don't you stop losing for a bit to get used to your new body and then take stock? As you say, your family are used to seeing you bigger, which makes it hard for them to be objective.

[MNetter15]

I think you look perfect, and shouldn't lose another pound. I know exactly how you're feeling as I genuinely didn't know when to stop when I had lost weight either and it's a strange feeling of not having to lose but maintain. You can generally eat more than you did when losing, but balance it with exercise.

PS I love your hair

Well done. Enjoy shopping for all the fabulous AW clothes!!

[IPokeBadgers]

Well done, that is a fantastic achievement. Now stop losing and work at the maintaining [which can be the really difficult bit!] Your family are right, you have lost enough and you look good.

You have a lovely figure, a defined waist and a few lovely wee curves. I think if you were to lose anymore you wouldn't have much left by way of shape, you would just look sort of "flat"...and that isn't a look that suits everyone [very few in my opinion]

Work on maintaining, your fitness and enjoy dressing and making the most of your new appearance. Well done!

[flanjabelle]

Thank you so much. I'm really shocked by the response. I thought you would all say at least another half stone. my family must be right.

I'm a size 10 in most shops now. Sometimes a 12. My bmi is 22.5 so well within the healthy range. Apparently the most healthy is 20-22 but 22.5 is fine.

Thank you very much for the opinions. those who said my brain hasn't caught up are 100% correct. I can see the difference in pictures, but can't see it in the mirror.

The clothes are amazing. All the things I used to wish I could wear and never could are starting to look ok on me. I usually have to try it on a few times though and banish the "look at your belly" demons Before I can go out in it.

Thank you v much for the hair comment, it needs a cut but I'm thinking of growing it out.

Thank you lovely mners. I have been heading towards maintenance anyway. I have stopped logging all my food and have been losing the last few lbs slowly at 1lb a week. I'll keep going with eating a bit more and keep excercising. Thank you.

[flanjabelle]

This was my 12stone2 pic a couple of weeks into dieting by the way. This is pretty much what I still see in the mirror.

[vestandknickers]

Wow- well done you! You looks slim and healthy and great. Please don't lose any more. Enjoy your achievement.

[mummypig3]

You look amazing. Well done. Agree with maintaining it now. You don't want to lose too much or you could end up with loose skin x

[MNetter15]

Well done again! It's a fantastic achievement, such a huge transformation. It's just a big shock to your family and friends I suppose, you look like an entirely different person!

I've lost the same amount of weight since last year and maintaining now, it has changed my life

[Squooshed]

You look fantastic. I don't think you'd look ill if you lost another stone but neither do I think you particularly need to lose any more weight.

[MorrisZapp]

You look great but I'm very wary of these threads becoming a thing on here.

I'd be happy for mnhq to say no more body selfies.

[MackerelOfFact]

You look great, don't lose any more. If you still 'feel' wobbly, then maybe focus on some exercises to tone any excess skin and get some added definition, but you look fantastic to me. Fantastic achievement, I'm feeling inspired to shed the extra couple of stone I'm carrying!

[Squooshed]

Can people still do 'how old do you think I am?' selfies? I'm still sniggering at the last one.

[WipsGlitter]

Can I ask how you lot the weight? I'm currently your before picture...

[flanjabelle]

That's fair enough squooshed. The problem is I don't exactly have masses of friends to ask unfortunately. The ones I do have are long term friends who also are used to seeing me overweight. so rather than barrelling on and ending up looking awful I thought it best to ask for honest opinions on here.

I think focusing on toning up is the right thing to do. I definitely have wobbly bits when naked. but that is to be expected after weight loss I guess.

I lost the weight using myfitnesspal. I logged every single thing that went into my body for the last 6months. I changed the make up of my meals. they used to be carb heavy, now they are veg heavy with a decent amount of protein and more fat. I did 1200-1300 calories a day and very rarely went over. I walk more. That's it really.

I dont log calories any more, I have learnt enough to make the right choices. I never thought that would happen.

[flanjabelle]

Thank you for the nice words and encouragement. Hopefully my brain will catch up at some point.